Public Health Policy Responses to Population Aging in Mexico: A Rights-Based and Socio-Legal Approach.

Background/

Objectives

Population aging represents a major social and public health challenge in Latin America. Mexico has made significant advances in regulatory and policy frameworks. Notable progress includes accession to the Inter-American Convention on Protecting the Human Rights of Older Persons (IACPHROP). It also includes the enactment of the Law on the Rights of Older Persons, and institutional reforms for social and cultural inclusion. This review evaluates Mexico's alignment of aging policies with IACPHROP standards using an integrated framework of social determinants, policies, and legal obligations. This approach has not been previously reported for Mexico.

Methods

Searches were conducted in electronic databases and official repositories. These included the World Health Organization, the Organization of American States, the Inter-American Human Rights System, and Mexican government regulations. Additional searches were performed in PubMed, Redalyc, SciELO, and Google Scholar.

Results

Advances include universal non-contributory pensions, the expansion of healthcare coverage, and social inclusion programs. Important policy areas remain to be addressed, including the establishment of a national long-term care system, and the reduction of regional disparities in health coverage. In addition, the evidence linking specific policies to improve health outcomes remains heterogeneous.

Conclusions

Mexico has built a solid foundation for the protection of older adults' rights. The development of a long-term care system and the adoption of place-based approaches are also essential. Regional cooperation and community traditions play a pivotal role in achieving dignified, inclusive, and sustainable aging.